Microsoft first released Windows Defender as a downloadable free anti-spyware program for Windows XP. Since then, It has evolved into a complete antivirus program. It replaced Microsoft Security Essentials as an anti-malware program in Windows 8, and since then, it comes pre-installed in all later versions. Until 2019 Microsoft Defender’s performance in terms of malware protection was not that good. But since then, Windows Defender has made significant improvements.
Windows Defender Security Center and McAfee are capable of protecting your system from online and offline threats. In this blog, we have compared these antivirus programs against each other to see which product emerged as the winner.
We’ve judged these antivirus programs on various grounds, such as real-time protection, features, and pricing. Continue reading the blog to find out about the outcome.
How Effective are They Against Malware?
As we know that no antivirus program is perfect, they all have some loopholes. These two suites are not exceptional.
Real-Time Protection Performance
Real-time protection checks for any malware while running in the background. When the antivirus detects malware or a threat, it notifies the user of recommended actions, such as removing or quarantining the files detected. During the Real-Time protection test, McAfee scored slightly better than Windows Defender.
Do They Impact PC performance?
If an antivirus application detects and blocks malware but slows down your PC in the process, then it’s pretty useless. McAfee took 633 seconds during a quick scan. At the same time, Windows Defender took 19 seconds.
Windows Defender was faster than McAfee during the full scan, completing the scan in 186 minutes. McAfee took 223 minutes to complete. During full scans, you won’t notice any drop-offs with Microsoft Defender. However, in the McAfee scan, there was a slight delay in opening new browser tabs.
Their Pricing And Plans
Windows Defender comes pre-installed on Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers. Windows Defender is a free program; you don’t have to pay extra charges to upgrade it. It covers a single device with a basic security package, including a firewall and real-time virus defense. Whereas McAfee is a third-party security vendor providing complete security solutions. So, in terms of pricing, you can’t compare these two.
What are their features?
Both antivirus programs offer many additional features that further enhance your online safety.
Windows Defender
Other than Full Scan and Quick Scan options, Windows Defender also offers a Custom Scan option. The Custom Scan is helpful if your system is infected by malware. Using this option, you can check specific files/folders for malware.
The highlighting feature of Windows Defender is its firewall. It prevents hackers from accessing your data by monitoring your network connections. The Parental Control feature of Windows Defender lets you see the sites your kids visit. But it only keeps track of activities performed on Microsoft’s Edge browser.
SmartScreen Filter in Windows Defender blocks malicious websites and checks for malware downloads. But like the Parental Controls feature, it only works with Microsoft’s Edge browser.
If your laptop gets stolen or lost, the “Find My Device” feature lets you track it. If you think your sensitive data is at risk, you can delete it or lock the computer. This feature comes in handy in a specific situation.
McAfee
In addition to real-time protection against malware threats, it offers home network protection and an advanced firewall; It also has a file shredder feature. It lets you permanently delete any file which you don’t think is necessary or contains some private information. Simply emptying your recycle bin is not enough to permanently delete any file. The suite also offers a vulnerability scanner that detects outdated software and notifies you.
McAfee Total Protection is an Award-winning Antivirus that offers more features than. Performance Optimization, Home Network Security, Security Experts and Online Support, Multi-device Compatibility, Password Manager, McAfee WebAdvisor, File Shredder, Encrypted Storage, and Identity Theft Protection.
McAfee and Microsoft Defender share some features, while others are exclusive to each provider. Thus, you are free to choose any of these suites according to your desired features.
Final Verdict
Most PCs are satisfied with Windows Defender, as it is free and provides adequate malware protection. But if you want to protect your system against new and evolving threats, you should consider third-party apps such as McAfee. Other than protecting against malware, McAfee also offers privacy features such as a VPN, data cleanup, identity theft, and parental controls.
Other than Windows, McAfee can be installed on multiple platforms, including MacOS, iOS, and Android. In contrast, Windows Defender is only compatible with Windows and cannot be installed on other platforms. McAfee also offers 24/7 customer service, which can be helpful in certain situations.
Among the two, McAfee emerged as the winner. If budget is not your primary concern, we recommend you go for McAfee, which provides additional features.
Visit: Mcafee.com/activate
Source: Windows Defender Security Center Vs. McAfee
